Caution and warning: This is a real family with real adventures and real issues. You may experience laughter, excitement, joy, sadness, and absolute insanity. Hold on because you are on for the ride of your life...:)

Saturday, November 28, 2009

My brother is a chef and an AWESOME cook. He brought this to thanksgiving and I can say that it was a new favorite of mine. You could make this and serve it as a side dish or main dish with a grilled chicken breast on top and or added meat. Thanks for sharing michael!

Dice sweet potatoes and place in large mixing bowl with olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Stir until evenly coated and transfer to any accommodatingly sized cooking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-45 minutes stirring half way. Once done and cool enough to handle, transfer back into mixing bowl. Set aside.

Change oven setting to broil (high). Meanwhile, halve the red peppers, removing the stem, inner seeds, and white pith. Coat lightly with olive oil and place on a cooking sheet, on the top rack of the oven, directly underneath the broil coils. Roast until the skin turns black, rotating as necessary (using tongs if needed). Once at least 90% of the skin is black, transfer peppers into a Ziploc bag (or place in a bowl covered with saran wrap) and let sit for 15 minutes. This will allow the skin to be easily peeled. Peel blackened skin off. Dice accordingly.

Get a pot, with enough salted boiling water to cook the Brussels sprouts, started. Quarter the Brussels sprouts. Place in fully boiling water for 30-45 seconds only! Strain and set aside.

Now start rendering your diced bacon in a very large sauté pan/wok. Once rendered, strain off about 2/3 of the unnecessary fat and save it for your next greasy breakfast! Add peppers, granulated garlic, and sauté for 1 min. Add sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Stir for 1minute, and then add white wine and cream. Let the liquid reduce down to a thick coating consistency. Finish by stirring in green onions and checking to see if the dish needs any salt

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

I was washing dishes this evening after a LONG day of prep cooking for thanksgiving tomorrow when my blunt eight year old declared "Mom I can see gray hairs!" Shocked I replied "No you can't!" When to my dismay I went to the closest mirror and low and behold she was right!

For the first time ever in Civil War history , it comes down to this. The winner of the Civil War will go to the Rose Bowl 2009. Now I know where I stand....Where do you stand? Are you a BEAVER BELIEVER or a.....cough cough...A duck?

Sunday, November 22, 2009

I am a huge fan of quotes. Over the years I have collected and written hundreds down in my book or on the computer. As I overlook my collection of quotes I have amassed, it is interesting to note that what I found to be inspirational or funny was related to much of what was going on in my life. I am going to try each Sunday night to give you an inspirational quote so you can be inspired to new heights!

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”Maria Robinson

Friday, November 20, 2009

So....I have a dream. That dream is to run the worlds largest relay, Hood to Coast. So I did as any good team captain would and I got a team all lined up. We collected money, filled out our entry form and waited with anticipation whether or not we would get in. The relay bases a majority of their entrants other than fundraising on a lottery system; leaving it up to pure chance on whether you get in or not.

I checked my mail....

and we did not get in.

I was sad for a moment.......

and if you know me I can be stubborn......

Is that a good trait?!?

And I thought, "oh well. Next year!"

I will not give up. I will run this relay and I will cross that finish line. I then can say.....

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

My 3 1/2 year old holds up a training bra at Target while we were buying gloves and says "Look mom. Its for me wittle boobies". Ahhh the mind of a three year old! I thought I was going to die laughing. Once she is older she will realize bra's are......

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

When I was a little girl, my grandmother made me a quilt with bright blue daisies and yellow butterflies. I opened it up on Christmas morning and loved it immediately. It was the perfect size quilt. I read books, did homework, cried, laughed, and was ill with this quilt. It became a source of comfort for me growing up. It went on family camping trips, vacations, girls camp, hospital trips, and sleepovers. It became my "keeping" quilt.

One of my absolute favorite books to read to my children is "The Keeping Quilt" by P. Polacco. It is about a family quilt that was passed down from one generation to the next and the family significance it holds. The quilt in the book is used for weddings, babies and celebrations. My quilt will probably never be used in a wedding, or a birthday celebration but mine has seen some tender moments that are dear to my heart.

Each one of my babies was wrapped in this quilt. I remember specifically the way Diana rubbed her cheek along the soft and worn fabric as I nursed her. Each child now asks for the blanket when they are sick, scared of monsters or want to snuggle with mom and dad. It is a source of comfort and it has been heart warming to know that I was able to share some thing so dear from my childhood with my children.

Grandma, thank you for my keeping quilt. My quilt has seen tears, babies, laughs, hugs, frustration, spit up, but most of all LOVE.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Sooooo....my youngest does not like to try new things. No way, no how! She will just plan ol' resist you if she is not comfortable with it. Hmm, I wonder where she got her stubbornness.

She surprises me though. For instance today....

I plunked down a toasted tuna sandwich with mozzarella cheese in front of her. Immediately her response was "Mom, that's yucky!" I responded that it was a chicken of the sea sandwich, just like her chicken patty but a special chicken of the sea sandwich, ALL for her. She ate that all up and took the first bite and loved it. HA! I thought! You just ate tuna and did not realize it!

Like her older sister who ADORES ketchup and would drink it if she could. She too had been tricked into eating a new food. Diana for the longest time thought tomato soup was "ketchup" soup. wink wink, she now knows the truth.

BUY this cookbook. You will not regret it! It is unlike ANY cookbook you own. The step by step pictures, stories are like walking into Ree's kitchen. She is an accidental cowgirl who warms your heart with her stories and recipes of living life as a cattle ranchers wife. Love it!

As most of you know my husband gets "VERY" ill from pet dander. 20 minutes in a room with a cat or dog hair results in "AH-CHOO'S" and sniffles leaving my kids pet-less with the exception of the lonely gold fish which by the way I kill. When I went to go take out the trash tonight out came a neighborhood kitten shivering and hungry. Me being the big softy I am, pulled out some tuna and invited the little guy in. My kids squealed in delight. A cat. "Can we keep it mom...PLEASE mom.....PLEASE!!" I replied no but we can play with it for the next few minutes. They took off in a hurry and fed the kitten a whole can of tuna, a bowl of water, and pet it until its fur was on end. They were in heaven but like all good things, it came to end. We gave our final good byes and let the kitten out into the night.

Thank you kitten for giving my kids a pet even if it was for a little while!

I love you so but we have had a rough year. Being a homeowner is fun but please no more surprizes. Pipes bursting, moldy subfloors, 3 1/2 appliances dying, chandelier fuses blowing...... I think that is a good enough list with out futher embaressment. So lets have a new year. Lets get some paint, tile, grout and make this a better year! I am on board if you are..........(knock on wood).

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

I have German lineage. I have ancestors who came through Ellis island to find the American dream. I have ancestors who walked across the plains for religious freedom from the mobs. I like many Americans have many lines, Indian, German and what ever else melted into the pot because that is what we are. A melting pot. This great nation brings people from all over the world to its borders with hopes and dreams that they can have a better life. It brings religious, political and ethical freedoms to each new immigrant as they stand to take the oath of citizenship. Everyday I live in this country and I question, how did I make today a better place? What did I do for my country?

Today is veterans day and my heart is with those families who have their husbands, mothers, and grandfathers overseas. Honor them today by making this country a better place. Lets serve one another to make this world just that must brighter; to make this great nation, the united states of America as a whole that much brighter, to be a beacon unto the world, so that our light might shine unto those that need it. God Bless America and Happy Veterans Day unto all who have served and will serve to keep this great nation and its values safe.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Life gives us many roads to take and it can be confusing at times which one to take. Years ago I left college, an elementary education major, out to head out into the world to teach our nations future generations. Today I am a mother of three beautiful children, a stay at home mom and VERY active in my church and community. Last week I went to meet with a college counselor to see HOW close i was to completing my nursing pre-recs. I found out after much talk over transcripts and such that I was only 2 terms away from applying to the nursing program. 24 credits....two terms. I was shocked.

At the end of college I had started to work on my pre-rec's for the nursing program but stopped so my husband could finish his degree. That was a hard decision to make because I truly loved going to college. My husband hated college and just wanted to work. At the end I had found my calling, Nursing but life being what it is is, NEVER predictable, gave me two options; to stay at home and let my husband finish or to continue and put off having anymore children. It is obvious what I chose but at the time let me tell you, that was a decision that was HARD but one I have not regretted. I was there day and night to see my young children grow up. I was there to support my husband that worked almost 40 hours a weeks at two jobs while going to school full time. I was where I needed to be. It felt right but right is not always easy. Sometimes the most fullfilling roads we take are not the easiest.

I am at a stand still for now on whether to go back or not. I know this is shocking and it is for me too. But like I said before life gives us many different roads to travel and this is one I need to decide whether or not I want to travel yet. I want to still stay at home as that has always been a priority for me but i figure if I can stick it out for 2 1/2 years, I can get to the grindstone and start on this dream. I will let you know on what I decide but for now I am at a standstill looking at the road and thinking to go or not to go.

Clo-bear and Taylor had their class parties at school last week. By the end of the party they were loaded up with plenty of sugar, music and games. It was exciting to see all their little friends dressed up. I remember as a kid the excitement of Halloween and the class parties. The games, crafts, trinkets you would bring home and the cupcake and sucker stains your mom would have to clean out of your clothes. I am saddened at how children in elementary school do not have that any more. If they have any sort of thing like it, its called a "harvest party" as not to offend anyone. It was sad to think this was Taylor's last year.

Chloe playing a card game

Halloween craft

Working hard!

Chloe decorating her trick or treat bag

Chloe with her friends A and K

Chloe with her friend Belle

Tigger on parade!

Going on Parade

Clo-bears class....there is only 1 boy and he was a knight. How appropriate!! LOL

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About Me

Hello! We are the Nye family. We have four kids Diana, Taylor, Chloe and Charleigh. We are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am an assistant preschool teacher and in my (what?) sparetime I enjoy running marathons, designing antique jewelry, scrapbooking, baking, exercising, reading and most of all spending time with my kids.